Weighty Wednesday -- Carrying On

I didn't make it to my WW meeting this week, but I did weigh at home. I barely made my weight goal . . . it's a good thing I didn't have to weigh with clothes on!

I'm finding this time of year to be tough to stay on course. I don't know if it's the up/down weather we're having or what, but I'm not 100% back in the game yet. I'll get there. It just takes focus.

This week I'm doubling my efforts to drink more water. This means I'm having to add a flavoring to my afternoon drink. I don't use one Crystal Light packet for one bottle of water--2 cups--, I usually fill my aluminum bottle--3 cups--with water and add a packet. It's a little more dilute, but it still works! I should have realized H2O was a problem when my fingernails started chipping and peeling. I had to cut them down to their nubbins. I HATE having them this short, but it's the only way to stop them from tearing.

I'm also having a tough time getting all my fruits and veggies in. I'll have to make a concentrated effort to get those in daily.

The reason I post about my weight loss trials and travails is partly to give others encouragement  that everyone goes through tough times along their journey, and partly to force myself to be accountable for my foodie actions.

That said, here's a little story for you:

I let the dog out last night while I was watching Face Off on Syfy channel--for those who've never seen it, it's Project Runway for make up artists. Last night's challenge was making a candy monster. It was a fun show. Many of the characters were fascinating, while the bad ones were really bad.

Anyway, the dog usually goes out, does her biz and comes back to the door. I started to wonder what was taking her so long. I go to the door and called her--nothing. Now, I'm worried she managed to get out of the yard--tough to do since we keep our gates locked.

But still, moms worry about stuff like this.

So I got a flashlight and wandered into the back yard. Maggie--the dog-- was sitting near my rose bushes that line the fence, staring up at the top of the fence.



'Possum!





I called the kidlet out to look at nature in the city. She came back with her phone and took a couple of pictures. This explains why the dog has been so excited about parts of the yard lately. She probably smells the opossum crossing through, but this is the first time she saw it!

Later, Peeps!

Weighty Wednesday--Water, Water Everywhere

And if you want to lose weight, you had better be drinking it!

No weight to report this week, because I'm in Canada and missed my weigh-in. Oops! Hey, it's happened before, when I was in Disney World and Las Vegas. My goal during this time is NOT to gain weight. Losing weight is optional. :-)

Okey-dokey-pokey

Drinking water isn't an exclusive Weight Watcher's Health Check, but it is one of their healthy check guidelines that you need to follow every day. The neat thing about the WW etools is you can check the serving of water off and once you hit six, you get a smiley face.

I like getting smiley faces.

Anyhoo, virtually every doctor and dietitian will tell you to drink between 6-8 glasses of water daily. A glass being 8 ounces. Many diets will allow you to exchange half of your required water with an equal amount of another liquid. Most often people will choose a diet soda, or tea with sweetener, flavored sweetener or whatever.

Do NOT do this!

You heard me--drink water only! Save the other drinks as a treat!

Why am I so adamant about this?

I'm not a nutritionist, doctor, or nurse, but I am drawing upon my experience as a medical technologist with some biochemistry and physiology in my training, plus the knowledge acquired from having diabetics (juvenile and adult-onset) in my family, along with the plethora of Weight Watcher nutritionists who developed the points plus system.

*THIS NEXT STATEMENT IS VERY IMPORTANT OBSERVATION*

Even if a product is considered no calorie, your body doesn't recognize that fact. Your body treats a sweetener as if it is the real thing, which results in an insulin response to the 'sugar' input.

I had always suspected this, but when I input the Breakfast Apple Cake recipe into the Weight Watcher point calculator, I discovered it to be true.

--One cup of sugar equaled 22 points, while the one cup of Splenda was the same 22 points.

The reason is the body's response to sweetener.

So, my friends, it is time to cut the habit. Go cold turkey and switch to drinking straight water. And if you water tastes funny, add a slice of lemon, lime or even a slice of cucumber. Get used to drinking water and counting it. I've measured my aluminum bottle that I take on my daily walks, it's 3 cups. I drink that amount every day during and after my walk. By 9 AM, I have already finished half of my recommended water for the day.

Keep hydrated and lose some weight!

Later, Peeps!